8/17 Cubs (Z!) @ Astros (Oswalt) 6:05 p.m., CSN/ESPN

[Southpaw191679666239]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_407296.jpg vs http://houston.astros.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_400061.jpg

 

Carlos Alberto Zambrano (9-5, 3.17) vs Roy Edward Oswalt (14-9, 2.57)

 

Is it me, or do the Cubs own Pettitte? :D

Anyway, let's go for 2 in a row and a series win!

[Marco4]

Z is rapidly becoming my favourite Cub. Raises glass Z-wards

 

GO CUBS!

[Chris]

We got this one

[OldHappyCubFan]

Win you freaking bums.

[muntjack]

In honor of the biggest game of the season to date (and out of complete boredom) I decided to sift through some numbers on our own Carlos Zambrano. ( 24 starts, 3.17 ERA, 1.20 WHIP)

 

Some intersting facts:

 

Subtract just THREE starts, and Carlos' ERA is a full run lower at 2.17, good for #2 in MLB.

 

In fact taking away just the disaster INNING in Milwaukee and his ERA stands at 2.76

 

24 Total starts

 

10 unbelievable starts in which he has 81 innings and only 3 ER

 

7 good starts in which he has 47 innings and 17 ER

 

7 poor starts in which he has 32 innings and 35 ER

 

 

 

These numbers back up the feeling I have had for awhile....

 

If not for a few lackadaisical innings, we would be seeing a lot of Clemens/Zambrano discussions.

[Derwood]

And "take away" 10 losses and the Cubs lead the wildcard.

 

Unfortunately, you can't take away what's done, and until Z stops taking a start off here or there, he won't achieve Cy Young status.

[jyoung55]

I hate Oswalt. Let's knock him out after a couple innings.

[UMFan83]

5.5 in 41 games is doable, 7.5 in 41 seems a lot harder. This game will determine if there is worthwhile baseball to watch on the Northside for the next 6 weeks

[Coach C]

5.5 in 41 games is doable, 7.5 in 41 seems a lot harder. This game will determine if there is worthwhile baseball to watch on the Northside for the next 6 weeks

 

Not to mention that we also get another chance to knock down the Marlins after the Colorado series. And in the month of September, there are alot of NL Central games. Also after this game today, the Cubs still have 7 games left aganist Houston.

 

Still have to hope that the Mets and Phillies trail off as well.

[otis89]

Let's go Cubs! Let's go Z!

[CubsHawks25]

Here's to hoping that Dusty doesn't revert back to his old ways... I don't know why, but this little voice in the back in my head is saying there's a good chance we're gonna see a "dumb" lineup tonight, something like;

 

LF Lawton

2B Walker

1B Lee

RF Burnitz

3B Ramirez

CF Patterson

SS Perez

C Barrett

P Zambrano

 

*shudders in horror*

 

 

Compared to what the right lineup would be;

 

RF Lawton

2B Walker/LF Murton

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

SS Nomar

C Barrett

LF Murton/2B Walker

CF Patterson

P Zambrano

 

I don't care if Burnitz is a lefty, the only way that guy can reach base is if the opposing defense screws up and lets him.

[Flames24Rulz]

5.5 in 41 games is doable, 7.5 in 41 seems a lot harder. This game will determine if there is worthwhile baseball to watch on the Northside for the next 6 weeks

 

Not to mention that we also get another chance to knock down the Marlins after the Colorado series. And in the month of September, there are alot of NL Central games. Also after this game today, the Cubs still have 7 games left aganist Houston.

 

Still have to hope that the Mets and Phillies trail off as well.

 

4 of those 7 games against Houston are the last 4 games of the year as well.

[thedaymen]

 

4 of those 7 games against Houston are the last 4 games of the year as well.

 

So there you are, in order to play "meainingful" games, all the Cubs need to do is pick up a game every two weeks until the end of the season. If they win tonight, that means 3 of 4 at the end of the season = a one game playoff.

 

Thats if the rest of the NL East stays out of this.

 

However, I think the Cubs shouldn't be looking or talking about the playoffs right now. They moved ahead of the Brewers last night. Next step is back to .500. Then the Mets, then...

[neely crenshaw]

is there any chance burnitz will no longer be a regular? i could see holla or burnitz playing over murton today simply because oswalt is filthy! if they do they need to hit no higher than 7th probably eighth with corey the other spot. i would not be to hurt if murton played the rest of the year save for the nastiest righties....

[Bull]

I still dn't care if you win.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Burnitz has sat out only 2 entire games this whole season. He leads the team in number of games played. I don't see him now getting platooned. Even with his .590 post all-star game OPS.

[muntjack]

And "take away" 10 losses and the Cubs lead the wildcard.

 

Unfortunately, you can't take away what's done, and until Z stops taking a start off here or there, he won't achieve Cy Young status.

 

I understand your point. The jist of what I was trying to point out is overall, Carlos has been absolutely dominant. It's just a couple of bad innings that disguise this.

[NorthsideAvenger]

I hate Oswalt. Let's knock him out after a couple innings.

 

And if there is ANY JUSTICE at all, it would be Michael Barrett ending Oswalt's night with a grand slam. :lol:

[moorecg]

Well...from here on out they basically all are...but tonight is a must win...admittedly...even if we do win, its a one and a million chance..."But I'm saying we've got a chance"

 

Said in my best Lloyd Christmas from dumb and dumber voice...

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Chi Cubs

AB R H RBI BB K LOB Season Avg

M. Lawton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269

T. Walker 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301

D. Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .347

A. Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306

N. Garciaparra ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236

C. Patterson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236

J. Burnitz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257

M. Barrett c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282

C. Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

Houston

AB R H RBI BB K LOB Season Avg

W. Taveras cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303

C. Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273

L. Berkman lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292

M. Ensberg 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297

M. Lamb 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215

O. Palmeiro rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331

A. Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243

B. Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243

R. Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .157

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

[rickrolled]

Can't complain much about this lineup, other than the fact that Burnitz is in it and Murton isn't.

[E.J.]

Not a bad lineup at all. Let's hope Burnitz can finally get out of his month and a half slump.

[Brian]

Should flip/flop Barrett & Patterson, but otherwise thumbs up.

[Derwood]

Good thing I checked this thread, as I thought the game was on at 8pm EDT, not 7PM.

 

Do we get Thorne and Stoney tonight? Or is it some other non-Miller/Morgan team?

[Flames24Rulz]

Good thing I checked this thread, as I thought the game was on at 8pm EDT, not 7PM.

 

Do we get Thorne and Stoney tonight? Or is it some other non-Miller/Morgan team?

 

Stoney announced the Tigers-Red Sox game earlier today.